My initial ideas for Picard
Posted: 2020-06-27 08:28pm
Let's just say that what I was expecting from the first season of Picard based on the initial teaser trailer... was not exactly what ended up happening on screen 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7YQoOmKQz4
Quick recap of the trailer:
Retired Picard in his vineyard, with a voice narrating:
Much of the season takes place on Earth with him in retirement. Part of the reason for this is so we get a good feel of what life is really like there in 24th century / early 25th century rather than bouncing around all over the place. Plus, not knowing spoilers I was hoping this would be more of a political drama series rather than typical action / sci-fi (that's what I thought Stewart meant we he said he wanted something different, clearly wrong there!)
Anyways, on the 15th anniversary of the destruction of Romulus, someone (maybe an old friend, crew member, a student, a historian, a member of Starfleet etc) comes to the vineyard and askes Picard over the course of the season about the events. Although Picard is hesitant he gradually relents and tells his story (mainly via flashback). This is what happened:
Romulus' star was going supernova, and the Romulan Empire was unable to fix everything on their own. Desperate, they asked the Federation for help. Picard and Spock are huge advocates and convince the Federation into intervening. Two plans are put into motion - red matter is developed to try and counter the supernova, while a large rescue fleet is built. Picard is put in charge of the fleet, and they set off for Romulus... only for the supernova to go off early. The supernova wipes out Romulus and a good chunk of the fleet before Spock is able to stop it (and ends up in the Kelvin timeline).
Everyone is horrified, and while there were initial suspicions of foul play the joint investigation eventually concludes that the estimates were simply off, sudden supernovas being fickle things that are hard to predict with 100% certainty. However Picard blames himself for the failure, and does his own investigation into what he could have done better... only to come to the belief that something very different happened. It looks like the supernova was in fact caused... by members of Starfleet (Or if not directly Starfleet, than by another power with Starfleet's acquiescence). And when it looked like a rescue was possible, they managed to speed things up just enough to ensure the disaster. They were even willing to wipe out a good chunk of their own fleet in the process since it would make the efforts seem all the more sincere. They hoped that by doing this they would cause the Romulan Empire to break out into chaos, which is what happens.
What's worse, Picard only has a strong suspicion, not proof. And that's just it - at best, Picard would be dismissed as having broken down due to the stress. At worst, his assertions may lead to a massive war against the Federation by other powers, not to mention a breakup of the Federation itself. Billions more lives would be lost, perhaps on a scale bigger than the Dominion War. And for what, if he doesn't even have enough evidence to hold those responsible to account? Assuming it was even an attack, as opposed to the results of the investigation being correct?
Faced with this knowledge, Picard decides to remain quiet and resigns, citing the the failure of the rescue armada as his reason. Perhaps his greatest regret and mistake - but he is human after all.
After the reveal there is heated discussion on what to do next, if anything. Picard ultimately decides that truth must now come out, no matter what that truth really is, and in spite of the potential risks and consequences. However, due to the above its not simply a matter of going to the press and spilling the beans. Instead, at the end of the season Picard and his companion(s)/friend(s) decide to go back into space and search for answers. The trail may be 15 years old, but the truth is still out there, somewhere.
Perhaps not very imaginative and it has a lot of similarities with other series (including DS9) but that was what was in my head going in. Until I saw the full trailers... and the series *sigh*.
What do you think good sirs / madams?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7YQoOmKQz4
Quick recap of the trailer:
Retired Picard in his vineyard, with a voice narrating:
Having tried my best to avoid spoilers and leaks beforehand, based on this I was thinking they were aiming for more of a Mr. Holmes approach for the first season, which IMO would have been pretty cool. In a nutshell here is what I thought was going to happen:15 years ago today, you led us out of the darkness. You commanded the greatest rescue armada in history. Then... the unimaginable. What did that cost you? Your faith? Your faith in us? Your faith in yourself? Tell us - why did you leave Starfleet, Admiral?
Much of the season takes place on Earth with him in retirement. Part of the reason for this is so we get a good feel of what life is really like there in 24th century / early 25th century rather than bouncing around all over the place. Plus, not knowing spoilers I was hoping this would be more of a political drama series rather than typical action / sci-fi (that's what I thought Stewart meant we he said he wanted something different, clearly wrong there!)
Anyways, on the 15th anniversary of the destruction of Romulus, someone (maybe an old friend, crew member, a student, a historian, a member of Starfleet etc) comes to the vineyard and askes Picard over the course of the season about the events. Although Picard is hesitant he gradually relents and tells his story (mainly via flashback). This is what happened:
Romulus' star was going supernova, and the Romulan Empire was unable to fix everything on their own. Desperate, they asked the Federation for help. Picard and Spock are huge advocates and convince the Federation into intervening. Two plans are put into motion - red matter is developed to try and counter the supernova, while a large rescue fleet is built. Picard is put in charge of the fleet, and they set off for Romulus... only for the supernova to go off early. The supernova wipes out Romulus and a good chunk of the fleet before Spock is able to stop it (and ends up in the Kelvin timeline).
Everyone is horrified, and while there were initial suspicions of foul play the joint investigation eventually concludes that the estimates were simply off, sudden supernovas being fickle things that are hard to predict with 100% certainty. However Picard blames himself for the failure, and does his own investigation into what he could have done better... only to come to the belief that something very different happened. It looks like the supernova was in fact caused... by members of Starfleet (Or if not directly Starfleet, than by another power with Starfleet's acquiescence). And when it looked like a rescue was possible, they managed to speed things up just enough to ensure the disaster. They were even willing to wipe out a good chunk of their own fleet in the process since it would make the efforts seem all the more sincere. They hoped that by doing this they would cause the Romulan Empire to break out into chaos, which is what happens.
What's worse, Picard only has a strong suspicion, not proof. And that's just it - at best, Picard would be dismissed as having broken down due to the stress. At worst, his assertions may lead to a massive war against the Federation by other powers, not to mention a breakup of the Federation itself. Billions more lives would be lost, perhaps on a scale bigger than the Dominion War. And for what, if he doesn't even have enough evidence to hold those responsible to account? Assuming it was even an attack, as opposed to the results of the investigation being correct?
Faced with this knowledge, Picard decides to remain quiet and resigns, citing the the failure of the rescue armada as his reason. Perhaps his greatest regret and mistake - but he is human after all.
After the reveal there is heated discussion on what to do next, if anything. Picard ultimately decides that truth must now come out, no matter what that truth really is, and in spite of the potential risks and consequences. However, due to the above its not simply a matter of going to the press and spilling the beans. Instead, at the end of the season Picard and his companion(s)/friend(s) decide to go back into space and search for answers. The trail may be 15 years old, but the truth is still out there, somewhere.
Perhaps not very imaginative and it has a lot of similarities with other series (including DS9) but that was what was in my head going in. Until I saw the full trailers... and the series *sigh*.
What do you think good sirs / madams?